Hawks Netball will enter the 2022 Victorian Netball League season with an exciting new coaching lineup.
The Hawks are thrilled to welcome Sophie O’Shea into the 19/Under coach role, with 2021 coach Guy Keane moving into a club Head Coach position, overseeing coaches and players across all three teams.
Jacqui Hansen will remain as Championship coach, while Division 1 will again be led by AJ Ballantyne.
O’Shea joined the Hawks as a player in 2020 and 2021 as part of a long and distinguished playing career that included time as Melbourne Phoenix squad member, VNL Championship level player and Victorian representative.
As a coach she has been pivotal to the success of the Caulfield Bears in the Southern Football Netball League.
O’Shea said she was thrilled to continue with the Hawks in a coaching capacity and was excited to build on the team’s outstanding 2021 campaign, in which the 19/U squad finished inside the top two at the end of the COVID-shortened season.
“I’m really excited about stepping into a coaching role and doing so within such an experienced and supporting coaching team that we have at Hawks,” she said.
“I’ve loved being a part of the Hawks family for the past two years as a player, and really excited that I get to remain a part of such a wonderful sporting club and environment in a coaching capacity.
O’Shea said she looked forward to supporting and developing the club’s young stars.
“I’m very aware and mindful that for a lot of these young athletes playing at 19/U level is their first experience of an elite pathway, so I’m very excited to see the talent and potential of these young women and also extremely humbled to be a part of that journey for them and mindful of the support and nurturing that they need.”
Further Hawks coaching announcements will be made in due course.